While many towns focus on festive decorations for Christmas and Halloween, there’s one charming village, aptly named Lover, that truly shines when it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day.
Known as the world’s most romantic village, Lover attracts visitors from all over the UK, eager to send their Valentine’s Day cards adorned with a unique postmark. Each February, thousands of heartfelt messages are dispatched from this enchanting hamlet, reaching loved ones across the globe—including even the icy continent of Antarctica.
This February, Lindy Nock traveled from Surrey to Lover, taking a moment to buy a postcard, have it stamped, and send it off to her pen pal in Denmark. “I saw it on Instagram and couldn’t make it last year,” the 54-year-old shared. “So I thought I would come here and send a card to my friend. The fact that they celebrate Valentine’s Day here, being called Lover, is fantastic!”
The residents of Lover take this annual celebration to heart, adorning their homes and businesses with vibrant red and pink decorations. What started as a simple postal service has blossomed into a community-wide effort; ten years ago, locals established the Lover Community Trust to manage the increasing volume of Valentine’s mail. Since then, volunteers have helped to send over 10,000 love letters.
And you don’t even have to visit in person to enjoy the special postmark! Cards can be sent from Lover in the days leading up to February 14th by placing orders online. Since 2016, a dedicated team of volunteers has been busy processing these cards and operating the Darling Cafe to cater to the many visitors.
They even receive orders from as far away as China, where special Mandarin characters are used to ensure addresses can be accurately read. All proceeds from card and souvenir sales go back into supporting the community, including funding a major renovation of the Old School building, which now serves as a vibrant community center.
Nick Gibbs, a member of the trust, proudly refers to Lover as the “world’s most romantic village.” The store also offers a variety of cards perfect for sending to friends. “We are trying to promote Valentine’s Day as a way of sending a little love to everyone,” the 78-year-old explained. “This year, the card with the most significant journey was sent to Japan last week.”
Volunteer Debbie Harper, who manages the Darling Cafe, usually finds herself in the kitchen, but she cherishes the moments she can contribute to the mailings. “I bought a card for my husband and got to put the stamp on. I love playing post office!” she exclaimed.
Janet and Bob Halliday, a couple in their 70s, have taken on the task of decorating the village each year. “It is going from strength to strength. When we first started, it was just the cards. Now we’ve got jewelry, cards, and linens that say, ‘Lots of love from Lover,’” Bob shared. “It is a very gregarious village, and it’s nice being involved.”
Next year marks a special milestone—the 50th anniversary of the Lover Valentine Post. Locals are excitedly planning a tapestry project that will trace the rich history of February 14th, ensuring that the spirit of love continues to thrive in this delightful village.
